UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. � May 18, 2010 � Led this week by "The Office," "The Biggest Loser," "Law & Order: SVU" and "Parenthood," NBC averaged a 1.8 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 5.5 million viewers overall for the week of May 10-16, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Season to date through 34 weeks, NBC is tied for #3 among the major networks in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 and tied for #2 in adults 18-34.

NBC highlights for the week of May 10-16

* On Tuesday, "Parenthood" ranked #1 in adults 18-49 and other key demos in the 10 p.m. ET hour, topping the original drama competition of CBS's "The Good Wife" and ABC's V." "Parenthood" has now ranked #1 in its slot in adults 18-49 versus regular competition for seven of the last eight weeks.

* This marks the second straight week of growth for "Parenthood" in both adults 18-49 and total viewers. Among adults 18-49, "Parenthood" was up 4 percent versus the prior week and up 8 percent versus two weeks ago.

* Also on Tuesday, "The Biggest Loser: Couples" was up 6 percent in adults 18-49 versus the prior week and up 21 percent versus two weeks ago, matching its highest 18-49 rating since February 9.

* "Biggest Loser" gained 23 percent in adults 18-49 and 29 percent or more than 2.1 million persons in total viewers from its first half-hour to its fourth, despite competition that included Fox's "American Idol" and "Glee" and ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and "Lost" and CBS's "NCIS" and "NCIS: LA."

* On Wednesday, "Minute To Win It" ticked off a time-period win in adults 18-49 with NBC's highest non-Olympic rating in the hour since November 2009.

* Also on Wednesday, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" won its time period in adults 18-49 and other key ratings categories versus the original drama competition of CBS's "CSI: NY" and ABC's "Happy Town." "SVU" more than doubled its lead-ins in adults 18-49 and total viewers while the competing original dramas on ABC and CBS declined significantly versus their respective lead-ins. This marks the 10th consecutive time a "Law & Order: SVU" original has ranked #1 or tied for #1 among regular programs in this time period in adults 18-49.

* "Law & Order: SVU" was up 33 percent in 18-49 and 22 percent in total viewers versus NBC's average in its Wednesday time period during the traditional 2008-09 season. Week-to-week, "SVU" gained 8 percent in adults 18-49.

* On Thursday, "Community" enrolled its biggest overall audience and matched its highest 18-49 rating since March 25, while "Parks and Recreation" matched its highest 18-49 rating since March 11 and attracted its biggest overall audience since March 25. "Community" ranked #1 among the major networks in adults and men 18-34 and "Parks" was #1 among men 18-34.

* Also on Thursday, "The Office" ranked #2 in its slot in adults 18-49, behind only ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," and #1 among the major networks in adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demos, ahead of "Grey's Anatomy," CBS's "CSI" and Fox's "Fringe."

* Among all primetime programs on the major networks this week, "The Office" ranked #17 (tied) in adults 18-49, #5 in adults 18-34 and #2 (tied) in men 18-34

* On Friday, "Friday Night Lights" ranked #1 among the major networks in its slot in adults 18-34 and out-rated ABC, CBS and Fox in all key adult-male demos. In adults 18-49, "Lights" scored an increase of 8 percent in adults 18-49 versus last week's season premiere and finished within 0.2 of a rating point of the time-period lead, tied for #2.

* On Sunday, "The 2010 Miss USA Pageant" grew from its first half-hour to its fourth by 70 percent in 18-49 rating and by 60 percent or nearly 2.5 million persons in total viewers. Among women 18-34, "Miss USA" increased 111 percent over its four half-hours.

Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of "live plus seven day" data except for the two most recent weeks, which are "live plus same day."

Additional NBC highlights for the week of May 10-16:

On Monday, May 10 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Chuck" averaged a 1.9 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 5.3 million viewers overall in a time period that included competition from ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," Fox's "House," and CBS's "How I Met Your Mother" and "Rules of Engagement." From its first half-hour to its second, "Chuck" increased by 6 percent in adults 18-49 (1.9 vs. 1.8) and 11 percent in men 18-49 (2.1 vs. 1.9). It's worth noting that so far this season, "Chuck" has added an average 22 percent to its 18-49 rating and more than 1.1 million total viewers when going from its "live plus same day" to its "live plus seven day" results.

At 9 p.m., a rebroadcast of "Law & Order" (1.1/3 in 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating since March 1. "Law & Order" increased from its first half-hour to its second by 20 percent in adults 18-49 (1.2 vs. 1.0).

Monday at 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" (1.8/5 in 18-49, 6.2 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating since March 1, the night of the show's time-period debut, and apprehended its biggest overall audience since March 15. "Law & Order" increased from its first half-hour to its second by 6 percent in adults 18-49 (1.8 vs. 1.7) and 4 percent in total viewers (6.3 million vs. 6.1 million) while competing dramas "CSI: Miami" on CBS and "Castle" on ABC declined half-hour to half-hour in both measures.

On Tuesday, May 11 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser: Couples" (3.4/9 in adults 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating since February 9. "Biggest Loser" was up week-to-week by 6 percent in adults 18-49 (3.4 vs. 3.2) and was up 21 percent versus two weeks ago (3.4 vs. 2.8).

From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Biggest Loser" gained 23 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 3.7 from a 3.0) and 29 percent or more than 2.1 million persons in total viewers (to 9.6 million from 7.4 million). "Biggest Loser" ranked #2 in its highly competitive two-hour time period among women 18-34 and women 18-49 and tied for #2 among the major networks in adults 18-34 (tied with ABC), behind only the Fox lineup of "American Idol" and "Glee" in those demos.

Tuesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Parenthood" (2.6/7 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall) won the time period in adults 18-49, adults 18-34 and other key demos, topping the original drama competition of CBS's "The Good Wife" and ABC's V." This marks the second straight week of growth for "Parenthood" in both adults 18-49 and total viewers: among adults 18-49, "Parenthood" was up 4 percent versus the prior week (2.6 vs. 2.5) and up 8 percent versus two weeks ago (2.6 vs. 2.4).

"Parenthood" has ranked #1 in its slot in adults 18-49 versus regular competition for seven of the last eight weeks. It's also worth noting that "Parenthood" has added an average 31 percent to its 18-49 rating and more than 1.7 million total viewers when going from its "live plus same day" to its "live plus seven day" results.

On Wednesday, May 12 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Minute To Win It" (2.2/7 in adults 18-49, 6.9 million viewers overall) won the hour with NBC's highest non-Olympic 18-49 rating in the slot since the "Biggest Loser" finale on November 25, 2009. In total viewers, "Minute" delivered NBC's top non-Olympic result in the hour since January 6. From its first half-hour to its second, "Minute" grew by 25 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 2.5 from a 2.0) and by 22 percent in total viewers (to 7.5 million from 6.2 million).

Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, "Mercy" averaged a 1.1/3 in 18-49 and 4.0 million viewers overall.

Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.8/8 in 18-49, 8.6 million viewers overall) won its time period in adults, men and women 18-49 and adults, men and women 18-34 versus the original drama competition of CBS's "CSI: NY" and ABC's "Happy Town." This marks the 10th consecutive time a "Law & Order: SVU" original has ranked #1 or tied for #1 among regular programs in this time period in adults 18-49. Week-to-week, "SVU" was up 8 percent in adults 18-49 (2.8 vs. 2.6).

It's worth noting that "SVU" more than doubled its lead-ins in adults 18-49 and total viewers while the competing original dramas on ABC and CBS declined significantly versus their respective lead-ins. From its first half-hour to its second, "SVU" increased by 7 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 2.9/9 from a 2.7/8) and 8 percent in total viewers (to 8.9 million from 8.2 million).

"SVU" was up 33 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's average in this time period for the traditional 2008-09 season (2.8 vs. 2.1). In total viewers, "SVU" was up 22 percent or more than 1.5 million persons versus NBC's average in the slot for the 2008-09 regular season (8.6 million vs. 7.0 million). "Law & Order: SVU" has added an average 23 percent to its 18-49 rating and more than 1.4 million total viewers when going from its "live plus same day" to its "live plus seven day" results.

On Thursday, May 13 from 8-8:30 p.m. ET, "Community" (2.0/7 in adults 18-49, 4.5 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating since March 25 and enrolled its biggest overall audience since that same date. "Community" ranked #1 among the major networks in the half-hour in adults and men 18-34. It's worth noting that so far this season, "Community" has added 24 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from its "live plus same day" to its "live plus seven day" results.

Thursday from 8:30-9 p.m. ET, "Parks and Recreation" (2.0/6 in 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating since March 11 and attracted its biggest overall audience since March 25. Week-to-week, "Parks" was up 5 percent in 18-49 (2.0 vs. 1.9) and 6 percent in total viewers (4.3 million vs. 4.0 million). In the time period, "Parks" ranked #1 among the major networks in men 18-34.

"Parks and Recreation" retained 100 percent of its 18-49 lead-in and has now retained 95 percent or more of its lead-in with 22 of 23 original telecasts this season. "Parks and Recreation" has added 19 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from its "live plus same day" to its "live plus seven day" results.

Thursday from 9-9:31 p.m. ET, "The Office" (3.4/10 in adults 18-49, 6.6 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 in adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demos, ahead of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," CBS's "CSI" and Fox's "Fringe." "The Office" is a heavily time-shifted show, adding an average 29 percent to its 18-49 rating so far this season when going from its "live plus same day" to its "live plus seven day" results. In total viewers, "The Office" adds more than 1.9 million viewers to its previously reported "live plus same day" results when "live plus seven day" ratings are released

Thursday from 9:31-10 p.m. ET, "30 Rock" (2.5/7 in 18-49, 5.0 million viewers overall) ranked #1 among the major networks in men 18-34 and #2 in adults and women 18-34, airing against the concluding half-hours of "Grey's Anatomy," "CSI" and "Fringe." "30 Rock" is a heavily time-shifted program, so far this season adding an average 26 percent to its 18-49 rating when going from its "live plus same day" to its "live plus seven day" results. In total viewers, "30 Rock" adds more than 1.3 million viewers to its previously reported "live plus same day" results when "live plus seven day" ratings are released.

Thursday at 10 p.m. ET, "The Marriage Ref" averaged a 1.6/5 in 18-49 and 4.0 million viewers overall.

On Friday, May 14 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Friday Night Lights" (1.3/5 in adults 18-49, 4.0 million viewers overall) ranked #1 among the major networks in the slot in adults 18-34 and out-rated ABC, CBS and Fox in all key adult-male demos. "Lights" finished within 0.2 of a rating point of the time-period lead in adults 18-49, tied for #2. "Friday Night Lights" scored an increase of 8 percent in adults 18-49 versus the prior week's season premiere (1.3 vs. 1.2).

Friday from 9-11 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.3/5 in 18-49 and 5.8 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline" increased by 50 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 1.5/5 from a 1.1/4) and 34 percent or more than 1.6 million persons in total viewers (to 6.4 million vs. 4.8 million).

On Saturday, May 15 from 8-9 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Parenthood" averaged a 0.5/2 in 18-49 and 2.0 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., a rebroadcast of "Law & Order" delivered a 0.8/3 in 18-49 and 3.7 million viewers overall.

Saturday from 10-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall) ranked #1 among the major networks in the hour in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures.

On Sunday, May 16, from 7-9 p.m. ET, "The 2010 Miss USA Pageant" averaged a 1.4/4 in adults 18-49 and 5.3 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "The Miss USA Pageant" grew by 70 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.7 from a 1.0) and by 60 percent or nearly 2.5 million persons in total viewers (to 6.6 million from 4.1 million). Among women 18-34, "Miss USA" grew from its first half-hour to its fourth by 111 percent (1.9 vs. 0.9). "Miss USA" matched its year-ago rating in adults 18-49 and increased year-to-year by 6 percent in total viewers (5.3 million vs. 4.997 million).

Sunday from 9-11 p.m. ET, "The Celebrity Apprentice" averaged 2.3/6 in 18-49 and 6.2 million viewers overall in a time period featuring competition from CBS's "Survivor" finale and ABC's season finales of "Desperate Housewives" and "Brothers and Sisters." It's worth noting that "Celebrity Apprentice" has added an average 14 percent to its 18-49 rating this season when going from its "live plus same day" to its "live plus seven day" results